There will be no public event this year.

But if you were wondering when to expect Cork’s city Christmas lights to start twinkling, the answer is early this week.

Six Cork City Council staff members and a crew of 17 electricians have been busy since the beginning of the month, hanging 6.8km of lights throughout the city as well as erecting 45 Christmas trees.

Now it’s almost go-time and the low wattage energy-efficient LED lighting will be set to glistening from Monday on.

The annual GLOW festival is being reimagined this year too, with a Creative Festive Windows Installation set to be unveiled in the city centre.

Word has it the Ferris Wheel may even be making an appearance, although nothing has been confirmed yet and everything is dependent on Covid-19 restrictions.

The lighting of the city’s Christmas Lights will kick start the city’s seasonal celebrations and people are being encouraged to shop in Cork and to shop locally for Christmas.

“Businesses in Cork are offering so many creative ways to shop including shopping online, take away, home delivery services and click and collect,” said Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Joe Kavanagh.